Welcome to Hyperion Records, an independent British classical label devoted to presenting high-quality recordings of music of all styles and from all periods from the twelfth century to the twenty-first.

Hyperion offers both CDs, and downloads in a number of formats. The site is also available in several languages.

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Reviews

'Leslie Howard is once again an ardent and reflective champion in both his playing and in his brilliantly informative essay; he also promises further discoveries. Hyperion's sound and presentation is immaculate as ever' (Gramophone)

'his stylistic understanding is always impeccable, and as recorded here his Steinway makes a warmly appealing sound' (BBC Music Magazine)

'So we learn more about this extraordinary composer, thanks to that rare combination of Howard's scholarly musicianship … and fearless keyboard technique, allied to the ongoing commitment of Hyperion Records—without which the entire musical world would be so much the poorer' (International Record Review)

'Howard's playing is so refined that even the almost impossible passages of the Concerto are made to seem easy and this is simply the best recorded piano sound I've heard in years' (The Times)

'no-one fascinated by Liszt, or by Romanticism at fever pitch, will tolerate being without this. Howard's Steinway sounds like it's in your living room—whispering, crooning, or thundering—up close and near. Liszt lives! Long live Liszt!' (Fanfare, USA)

Introduction

Album-Leaves by Liszt continue to turn up at auction or on odd pages amongst collections. The Album-Leaf in D major, S164h (in the Weimar archive) may even date from Liszt’s apprentice years – it bears the interwoven letters L and D signifying Laus Deo, which we find on many pages of his earliest works. The Album-Leaf: Preludio, S164j is similar to several others, although the particular conclusion in F sharp major is new to this version. The Album-Leaf in A flat major, S166l is also in Weimar, and produces some very original harmony in its touching efforts at counterpoint. The Album-Leaf, S167h is really a game for the musical eye – three times the same-sounding chord requires different enharmonic spelling in order to accommodate the left-hand line.

Other albums featuring this work

Leslie Howard’s recordings of Liszt’s complete piano music, on 99 CDs, is one of the monumental achievements in the history of recorded music. Remarkable as much for its musicological research and scholarly rigour as for Howard’s Herculean piano p ...» More